October 20 / Huntly PlaceMakers Speedway
Welcome to Season 12/13! After a long off season drought for the spectators (I'm sure it doesn't feel quite so long for the drivers and crews getting their cars ready) and with a break in the usual dire Labour weekend weather, Huntly PlaceMakers Speedway was one of the lucky few to get their season underway Saturday night. The original plan had been for a two nighter featuring the Waikato Stockcar Championship to open Huntly's calendar - which in theory is great with the intention of attracting cars to the track - but a midweek posting advising it had been reduced to one night meant the reality was 40+ cars was going to be a stretch (I think we had 21 in the pits pre-meeting). Pity as it would have been a sensational start, some opening nights can be a bit mundane. So I'm rather pleased to say this opening night was anything but mundane, any rustiness or first night nerves was quickly dispensed with, and some good hard and fast racing ushered in the beginning of season 12/13.
TWS Stockcar Championship
Three heats with points to decide the TWS sponsored title instead of the postponed Waikato Championship was a great battle and highlighted the fact that any visiting driver to Huntly will be hard pressed to take away any title. 68r Keith Spanhake and 98r Mark Costello were the obvious threats and proved that with a comprehensive win to Spanhake in the first heat heading home 88h Justin Hutchby and 55h Neville Hazelton in third. 69h Whiter and 48h Gallop had the biggest incident bringing on the red lights early in the race. A spin late in the race in turn 3 for 441h Andy Weir courtesy of 36h Caldwell that left him nursing the car home with an almost detached left front wheel coming home 16th. Result courtesy of Huntly website HERE.
68r Keith Spanhake
88h Justin Hutchby
55h Neville Hazelton
86h Kris Allen
98r Mark Costello
51h Alistair Van Amsterdam
49h Tony Van Lieshout
99h Mark Powell
34h Anton Leek
44h Anthony McNeil
Heat 2 was a chance for many to really test their cars out and as such was more of a flag race. 98r Costello was taken to the wall immediately though and spent most of the race playing catch up. Hutchby started on poll and made easy work of the win finishing well ahead of anyone else. Spanhake started well down the grid in 15th and was mid pack early on and as far as I could tell finished in 3rd despite a few attempts by 99h Mark Powell who made life difficult for him, an incredible drive. The only fault I could find with this meeting was the sound system which of course meant I could hardly hear any results. We were between turns 3 + 4 and unfortunately Mintie's commentary was barely a whisper, usually drowned out by the pit speakers which were louder. From what I could hear I think the points after two heats had 88h Hutchby on 41pts, 68r Spanhake on 40pts, 55h Hazelton on 37pts and then a bunch of cars back on 30pts including 98r Costello and 49h Tony Van Lieshout.
88h Justin Hutchby
36h Mark Caldwell
68r Keith Spanhake
55h Neville Hazelton
34h Anton Leek
48h Scott Gallop
49h Tony Van Lieshout
99h Mark Powell
98r Mark Costello
33h Russell Michie
Heat 3 had a few gaps on the grid particularly near the front giving Costello essentially a grid 2 start in front of Andy Weir while Hutchby was well down the pack on about grid 10 and Hazelton off the back of the pack. 51h Alastair Van Amsterdam lead early on from Costello but Spanhake's chances took a dive when 168a Billy Neill stood on the brakes holding up the entire outside row with the 68r on about grid 6. 7k David Moore decided to give Hutchby a few problems but 36h Mark Caldwell attacked him freeing up Hutchby. Costello was not so lucky with 48h Scott Gallop stopping him first in turn one and then again in turn 4. 99h Powell again was on Spanhake's case nearly spinning him mid race only for that man Gallop to send the Rotorua driver into the wall just as he was about to take on Hutchby in turn 1, Hutchby escaping and taking second place behind Weir and the overall title. I think Spanhake may have come in second overall, an impressive early season result and great to see one of the sports most popular drivers back on the track. Justin Hutchby proved he is not only one of the toughest competitors on the track but has the car to take the wins also.
441h Andy Weir
88h Justin Hutchby
27h Rodney Smythe
51h Alistair Van Amsterdam
68r Keith Spanhake
34h Anton Leek
98r Mark Costello
55h Neville Hazelton
99h Mark Powell
36h Mark Caldwell
Valvoline Waikato Saloon Championship
A decent field of 13 fronted up for the other feature of the night and the first heat probably was the race of the night with a battle between 49h Bodie Abrahamson and 48a Phil Towgood. They were neck and neck all race but coming up to the last corner there was a coming together and Towgood crossed the line attached to the wall and none to pleased going by the friendly gesture out the window! Going by the results on the Huntly website Abrahamson was disqualified from the heat. In heat 2 it was Gisborne visitor 77g Daniel Cook who really impressed but Towgood again stole the show with clouds of smoke emitting from the car for the final two laps. Heat 3 had Towgood in the box seat starting at the front but after a lap or two of smoke he was hauled infield and his title hopes really did go up in smoke! 21h Steve Williams inherited the lead and won the heat. Overall Williams took the title from Cook and 6m Kevin Moore in 3rd.
The meeting was rounded out with support from 10+ Production Saloons, 7 Minisprints, 22 Ministocks and about 4 Supersaloons. Well done Huntly Speedway on running a meeting with something more exciting than just the fact it is opening night. I wasn't fooled by the new palm trees out the front of the entrance though, I suggest if you are visiting Huntly for the next few weeks take your thermals!
3 comments:
A good descriptive review Gregobro!!
Up in smoke indeed. Still, all can be fixed, though not a great start to the season. Cheers, Mrs. T.
Good to hear, he was amazing to watch, one of my favourite drivers. My fingers were crossed in that last heat but had a feeling the black flag was coming...
Apparently they were looking for the black flag in the 2nd race when he started smoking but it was up in the office instead at the start/finish box so we were lucky there.
I had a look at the books you make and they are pretty amazing! I will have another look at work because they will download quicker and cheaper there, but 1 question, do you think you have enough photo footage and review material about the place to make up a special one for me of Phil?? Let me know, I might get you to make me up one for xmas.
Cheers, Christine
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